Reports prepared in financial accounting are general-purpose reports whereas reports prepared in managerial accounting are usually special-purpose reports.

Financial Accounting

The field of accounting focused on the summary, analysis, and reporting of financial transactions pertaining to a business to external entities.

Managerial Accounting

The process of preparing management reports and accounts that provide accurate and timely financial and statistical information required by managers to make day-to-day and short-term decisions.

General-Purpose Reports

General-purpose reports are financial statements designed to meet the broad information needs of external users, such as shareholders and creditors, rather than tailored for specific managerial requirements.